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The stem borer menace has made its appearance in the mango farms of Srinivaspur taluk.

Mango suffers from several diseases at all stages of its life. All the parts of the plant, namely, trunk, branch, twig, leaf, petiole, flower and fruit are attacked by a number of pathogens including fungi, bacteria and algae.

They cause several kinds of rot, die back, necrosis, blotch, spots and mildew. Some of these diseases, including stem borer menace, are of great economic importance as they cause heavy losses in mango production.

Stem borer is widely distributed in India and attacks a variety of fruit trees including mango. Damage is caused by the grub of this beetle as it feeds inside the stems boring upward resulting in drying of branches and in severe cases attained stem also dies.

Adult beetles, 35-50 mm in size, are stout and greyish brown in colour with dark brown and black spots. Eggs are laid either in the slits of tree trunk or in the cavities in main bra…

Nadine tied 1971's Ginger for second place on the list of longest-lasting cyclones of at least tropical storm strength, AccuWeather.com reported.

Nadine formed Sept. 11, became a hurricane Sept. 15, and then transitioned to non-tropical system Sept. 21. The system regained tropical status Sept. 24 and became a hurricane for a second time Sept. 28.

The longest-lived tropical cyclone [tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane] on record in the Atlantic Basin is Hurricane San Ciriaco of 1899, with a lifespan of 28 days, AccuWeather said

San Ciriaco, like Nadine, had a period when it was not considered to be a tropical system and then regenerated.

The global record for tropical cyclone duration record is 31 days, set by 199…

Even amid a week away from the office, one could not fail to be aware of our industry making headlines, not least Tesco's (to-be-expected) drop in half-year profits.

That the UK's largest retailer reported a 12% fall in first-half earnings was not a surprise, given its profit warning in January. The retailer has invested GBP1bn in revitalising its UK operations and CEO Philip Clarke insisted the group's efforts were beginning to pay off, pointing to a 0.1% rise in underlying sales during the second quarter, which halted an 18-month sales slide.

However, such a small increase in like-for-likes indicates severe pressure on underlying volumes and LFLs fell 0.9% in last year's second quarter. Even Clarke admitted Tesco will need more time to win over consumers. Moreover, Tesco's problems aren't just limited to the UK. Legal changes in South Korea hit Tesco's profits in what is its largest market in Asia, earnings in Europe fell a…

Jetsetter reviewForty-five minutes after departing Ho Chi Minh City in a propeller plane, you'll catch your first glimpse of the spectacular 15-island archipelago of Con Dao.

Lush, rounded mounds and towering peaks — some majestic, others mere specks topped with a brave patch of trees — rise like a mirage out of the aquamarine waters of the South China Sea.

With views like this, it's hard to leave the resort — but the island has activities to offer.The Six Senses Con Dao, the first five-star, Western-run property to come to the islands, is an equally dreamlike experience. Known for its “barefoot luxury” concept (five-star service without fuss or formality), the eco-chic chain has built a sublime all-villa getaway on a gorgeous crescent of golden sand in what is one of Vietnam’s most pristine, under-the-radar spots.

Your on-call butler will welcome you to your villa, a light-filled, open-plan expanse with huge sliding glass doors that look out onto the sea’s spe…

Stratfor has received multiple reports of U.S. and French military movements that we would like to highlight to our readers. These movements could have multiple explanations and might not be linked. But given the numerous ongoing crises specifically centered in North Africa and the Middle East, we consider these developments to be worth following.

Analysis

According to a worldwide network of aircraft spotters and trackers, at least a dozen MC-130H, HC-130N, HC-130P and AC-130U military transport planes and gunships crossed the Atlantic Ocean on Sept. 13 heading eastbound. These aircraft are typically used for a variety of special tasks, including in close cooperation with special operations forces. The last reported stop for the aircraft was Souda Bay, Crete. It is unclear whether the aircraft have left Crete, but we are working on tracking them down.

Chávez, who has led Venezuela for nearly 14 years, won 54.42 percent of the vote against former Miranda Gov. Henrique Capriles last night.

By Jim Wyss, McClatchy / October 8, 2012

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez holds the national flag while celebrating from a balcony at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas October 7. Venezuela's socialist President Chavez won re-election in Sunday's vote with 54 percent of the ballot to beat opposition challenger Henrique Capriles.

Tomas Bravo/Reuters

CARACAS, VENEZUELA

President Hugo Chávez - the former soldier and Latin American socialist who has led this nation for almost 14 years - won an additional six-year term Sunday night.

Chávez won 54.42 percent of the vote against former Miranda Gov. Henrique Capriles, the National Election Council, or CNE, reported.